The University of Guyana’s Faculty of Technology will be better positioned to expose engineering students to more hands-on experience following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the university and the Machinery Corporation of Guyana Ltd (MACORP).

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Lawrence Carrington, left, signs the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with MACORP’s General Manager, Jorge Medina.

The signing took place last evening at the Cara Lodge on Quamina Street, and according to Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Lawrence Carrington, the agreement will be beneficial to both parties. Carrington told those gathered that he believes in the importance of partnerships and stated that the university needs to look at ways to adopt new perspectives of development.  General Manager of MACORP, Colombian Jorge Medina, said that the heavy-equipment company has been supporting the University of Guyana since 1995 when the company donated a vehicle to the tertiary institution for the undertaking of a project by students. He said his company has been offering new ideas in the field of mechanical technology aimed at contributing towards the development of Guyana.

Dean of the Faculty of Technology of UG, Sherwood Lowe while expressing his gratitude to MACORP for its support, said that the university has signed agreements with other entities in the past, noting that it is important for the institution to establish links with stakeholders, including the private sector.

The MOU covers a two-year period within which the Faculty of Technology of UG will receive financial support to the tune of $850,000 annually, access to MACORP’s laboratory and testing facilities for lecturers conducting research as well as the accommodation for students on Industrial Attachment. Students working on final year projects will also benefit from the MOU.